Delta Air Lines launches Melbourne-Los Angeles flights
There’ll soon be more competition in the skies as Delta takes on Qantas and United.
By David Flynn, February 3 2025
Delta Air Lines will begin direct flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles this year, turning the trans-Pacific route into a three-horse race as the carrier takes on Qantas and United Airlines.
Delta’s Airbus A350, fitted with doored Delta One private suites in business class and a spacious Delta Select premium economy cabin, will fly the route three days a week from December 3 (LAX):
- from LAX, flights will depart at 9.25pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, arriving in Melbourne at 8.15am two days later
- from Melbourne it’s a 10.25am start every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in Los Angeles at 6.10am the same day
Tickets are expected to go on sale within the coming days, although Delta notes this will be a “seasonal service” rather than running all year round, with flights expected to end in March 2026.
(As a data point, Delta’s seasonal Brisbane-Los Angeles service which began on December 4 2024 runs through to March 28 2025.)
However, Delta says it’s “still evaluating the potential for an extension into (US) summer. No final decision has been made yet.”
Delta One business class.
Delta will become the first airline to fly the Airbus A350 non-stop from Melbourne and the United States, with the promise of a superior trip to the Boeing 787-9's of Qantas and United Airlines.
Travellers headed beyond Los Angeles will enjoy a seamless transfer at Delta’s LAX Terminal 3 gateway, including Delta One and Sky Club lounges to break the onward journey to over 40 key cities across the US, including major hubs such as New York, Boston, Seattle, and of course Delta’s home town of Atlanta.
Delta Premium Select premium economy.
The business class experience at LAX includes the dedicated Delta One lounge and premium check-in area with private TSA screening.
The Delta One Lounge at LAX.
“The arrival of a new carrier on the route will also make it easier for Victorian businesses to connect with one of our key trading partners and Victorian families wanting to travel to Disneyland or North American ski fields,” says Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus.
13 Apr 2020
Total posts 10
Glad to have Delta flying into Melbourne. Hope there’s enough demand once the state govt cash runs out to maintain/grow the route beyond a seasonal frequency.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 353
Would hope the AU$ improves in time once the Victorian Government subsidy begins to expire, considering the risk taken launching it this year (NW season) relying almost entirely on US O&D (thus the subsidies) without an Australian partner.
QF
04 Apr 2014
Total posts 213
These seasonal flights are notoriously fickle; they can come and go year by year.
01 Jul 2021
Total posts 36
About time Delta comes to Melbourne, hopefully the round will be popular enough to be upgraded to year-round.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Oct 2016
Total posts 131
This is excellent. About time Mel started getting some attention instead of Syd.
On a separate note I'm completely baffled about the "promise of a superior trip" on 350 vs 787.... I've flown both many times and I can't see any material difference between the two... They're both as great as each other as far as I'm concerned.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 512
The 787 is great but in my experience the A350 has the edge, it definitely seems quieter and also seems more spacious although that's probably more aesthetics than actually being much wider, still, 'perception' is important and especially on a 14hr flight!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Nov 2013
Total posts 476
As a Brisbane-based flyer - I feel your pain... we're (hopefully) lucky up here in that we've got a few new non-QF choices to LAX and beyond - like the AA flight DFW
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 784
Same (even though I'm slightly partial to one of them).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jun 2019
Total posts 7
Lets just hope that this can help reduce prices, going to LA in June Qantas want $15 to 20K , absolute madness.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 512
I have my doubts that a seasonal route like this, which is flying for just 3-4 months which tend to be busy anyway, is going to have much effect on driving prices down, but maybe all we can hope is that (a) prices of other airlines don't go UP now there's a third player, and (b) Delta launches with a really good sale with Qantas and United feel compelled to match. This WILL bring prices down for a short period until those seats are sold, although probably won't have a lot of overall effect across those 3-4 months. But anything which triggers a competitive sale between QF, UA and DL is okay by me!!
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